Expressing their discontent with the recent electoral process, opposition MLAs from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition in Maharashtra have chosen to boycott the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected state assembly.
The boycott was announced on the first day of the special three-day session of the Maharashtra assembly.
The decision, led by prominent figures like Aaditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT), is to protest against what they allege is the manipulation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the elections.
Mr. Thackeray articulated his rationale behind the action, stating, ‘We boycotted the oath-taking ceremony today as democracy is being murdered by the use of EVMs… This (the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections) is not the mandate of the public; it is the mandate of EVM and the Election Commission of India.’
The MVA, comprising parties like Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), argued that the lack of public celebration for the election results further validates their doubts about the electoral process’s transparency. They have called into question the role of the Election Commission of India (ECI), suggesting that the body has not done enough to quash these concerns or ensure voter confidence in the EVMs.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led NCP secured 230 of 288 Assembly seats in the election conducted on November 20 this year.
The political standoff comes as the assembly session is set to elect the Speaker, hold a trust vote for the new government led by BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis, and attend an address by the Governor. The absence of opposition MLAs from the oath-taking could lead to a situation where their seats might be considered vacant if they do not take the oath within the constitutional timeframe, although this is a grey area under current laws.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar of the Mahayuti alliance responded to the opposition’s allegations by urging them to pursue their grievances legally. He suggested they approach the ECI or the courts if they have evidence of EVM tampering. He dismissed the walkout as an unnecessary gesture post-election.
It is unclear if the opposition’s protest will influence future political discourse and whether it will lead to any debate concerning substantive changes in how elections are conducted in the state.